12:44 On that day men were appointed over the storerooms for the contributions, first fruits, and tithes, to gather into them from 1 the fields of the cities the portions prescribed by the law for the priests and the Levites, for the people of Judah 2 took delight in the priests and Levites who were ministering. 3 12:45 They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, along with the singers and gatekeepers, according to the commandment of David and 4 his son Solomon. 12:46 For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors 5 for the singers and for the songs of praise and thanks to God. 12:47 So in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah, all Israel was contributing the portions for the singers and gatekeepers, according to the daily need. 6 They also set aside 7 the portion for the Levites, and the Levites set aside the portion for the descendants of Aaron.
1 tc The translation reads מִשְּׂדֶי (missÿde, “from the fields”) rather than the MT reading לִשְׂדֵי (lisdey, “to the fields”).
2 tn Heb “for Judah.” The words “the people of” have been supplied in the translation for clarity, since “Judah” is a proper name as well as a place name.
3 tn Heb “standing.”
4 tc With many medieval Hebrew
5 tn Heb “heads.” The translation reads with the Qere the plural רֹאשֵׁי (ro’shey, “heads”) rather than the Kethib singular רֹאשׁ (ro’sh, “head”) of the MT.
6 tn Heb “a thing of a day in its day.”
7 tn Heb “were sanctifying.”